Transgender inmates in San Francisco jail to be housed based on identity

The San Francisco jail is taking steps to house female transgender inmates based on their gender identity by the end of the year, regardless if they have had gender reassignment surgery.

The move is the beginning of a two-phase policy expansion, announced Thursday, that will ultimately house transgender women and men in the jail based on their preferred gender identity.

The women will participate in classes, job training, physical recreation, and other programs in the women's jail during the day but will remain in the men's jail during the evenings and overnight

The San Francisco jail is taking steps to house female transgender inmates based on their gender identity by the end of the year, regardless if they have had gender reassignment surgery

The move is the beginning of a two-phase policy expansion, announced Thursday, that will ultimately house transgender women and men in the jail based on their preferred gender identity by the end of the year (San Francisco County Jail #5 pictured above)

The sheriff's department currently houses transgender inmates in their own unit for their protection. 

Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi said currently six of the county's 1,257 inmates are transgender people.

Transgender inmates who want to be housed with their preferred population will have to participate in a review process, according to Mirkarimi, who said the housing decisions will not be based solely on whether an inmate has undergone gender reassignment surgery or has a gender dysphoria diagnosis, the Los Angeles Times reported.

'It's not going to be based on genitalia alone. We will have an advisory committee, experts that help represent the transgender population,' he said. 

'There will be complicated incidences where we'll have to decide if this is the proper fit or not.' 

Beginning next month, he said inmates and staff members will be educated and trained to use the correct pronouns, to understand the implications of calling an inmate by the wrong gender and how to 'immediately and effectively' address violence against and harassment of transgender inmates.

'The high majority of municipal jails and prisons in this country make invisible, suppress or isolate inmates who are transgender,' Mirkarimi said in a statement. 

Source: daily mail